Mike D has been getting a pass from most non-NY bases media. Which makes this article all the more odd. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-dantoniknicks122209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Woj basically asserts that D’Antoni’s ego drove him out of Phoenix and he landed in NY for the money – pure and simple. Worst of all he regrets not taking the Bulls job, whose lineup was more promising and ready to play his style of hoops. And now, Mike is leaning on his record in Phoenix as an excuse for the Knicks subpar record.
There may be some truth to it. Yes D is stubborn. He proved that with Steph, and is doing the same with Nate (though it could also be said that Nate has had plenty of chances under Mike). My biggest criticism is his unwillingness to go deep into the bench and develop some of his youth and rest his starters.
But in his defense, D’Antoni is compromising his offensive philosophy a bit to fit his roster. He also is the only guy on the team who HAS a record of winning. So if he had to pull that card earlier in the season – as mentioned in the article – I don’t see anything wrong.
I also buy Mike’s rationalization that he felt comfortable with Donnie and the rest of the Knicks organization. Phoenix was so cheap, and I think the Bulls had proved to be stingy, too. The Knicks clearly were willing to spend.
There is also the not so small factor of Mike’s wife prefering NY.
Whatever the case, Mike has the Knicks on the right track right now.
#1 by Grade-A-Funk-u-very-Much on December 29, 2009 - 10:23 pm
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that Woj article is bizarre… he clearly wants to have some sort of shoving match with him (ie: “and D’Antoni holds tightly to the myth that LeBron James wants to play for him.” — hey Woj, settle down..)
1. Phoenix was a mess. Sarver is a complete and total jack@ss who just sold draft picks away (2 of which turned in Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez) and Kerr has proved to be a total moron with the Terry Porter signing.
2. Chicago is a disaster. Reinsdorf is a notorious cheapskate who players and coaches hate (please see Jordan’s HOF speech and the complete merry-go-round that place has been since MJ left).
and like you said, who cares if D’Antoni pulled that card with the players. this was the biggest collection of losers ive ever seen on a NBA roster. not a single guy played meaningful minutes on a playoff team, ever… the guy changed his whole style and they are playing defense now (this with a team where everyone knows they wont be here next here). he’s a stubborn dude, has an ego, but jeeeezuz, at least he has a sense of humor
#2 by YesandtheFoul on December 30, 2009 - 10:41 am
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Agreed. Phoenix as an organization totally blew it, and D’Antoni with Nash obviously kept the team competitive with what they established there. The list goes on and on. The incredibly cheapskate ownership – selling of inexpensive draft picks, not resigning their key players…
They let Joe Johnson go – TERRIBLE. Got Boris Diaw back, and remarkably got him to play at a borderline all-star level. This would be the equivalent of Jordan Hill getting traded this off-season, then becoming a starter on a playoff team and averaging 16 and 8. THEN, remarkably, Diaw became to good for Phoenix to keep. They then traded him away last year because they didn’t want to pay him back, but at least getting back Jason Richardson.
It should also be noted that D’Antoni successfully integrated Kurt Thomas who may as well have been playing with concrete sneakers, and also made the best of the Shaq trade.
If your ownership constantly did everything in there power to cheap out on you and your team and stopped listening to your insight, would you stay in Phoenix.
As for the Bulls – again, agreed. Chicago is a disaster of a franchise. They’ve gotten nothing right. Haven’t signed a single free-agent of note in a decade, except for woefully overpaying Ben Wallace. Maybe one of the worst free agent signings of the last 10 years that remarkably gets a pass. They haven’t even tried, in free agency. And how many lottery picks has this team had since 2002?! And they still suck?!?! Reinsdorf simply doesn’t want to pay people and has proven it over and over again, starting with when they cheaped out on paying Elton Brand. They cheaped out on re-signing Ben Gordon (which is killing them this year). Cheaped out on their coaching hire with completely unproven Vinny Del Negro of all people.
Basically, Michael Jordan fell into their laps with the third pick in 1983, and since the Jordan era ended the Bulls have been a huge disappointment.